| Website Cases |
|
x | |
| Acknowledgments |
|
xi | |
| Teacher Introduction: The Case Study Method as a Pedagogical Technique |
|
1 | (6) |
| Student Introduction: Using Cases to Learn About Organizational Communication |
|
7 | (6) |
| Example Case: Just Part of the Crop, Joann Keyton |
|
13 | (15) |
| Example Case Analysis |
|
28 | (6) |
| Section 1: Organizational Culture |
|
|
1. Contemplating My First Year |
|
|
34 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
A new employee excited about her first job finds herself in the midst of a negative organizational culture wondering what to do next. |
|
|
|
2. Change, Coalitions, and Coping |
|
|
44 | (10) |
|
Joy L. Hart, Shirley Willihnganz, and Greg B. Leichly |
|
|
|
Management change fractures a widely accepted family culture, forcing the retired founders to return. |
|
|
|
3. How Do You Get Anything Done Around Here? |
|
|
54 | (8) |
|
Marian L. Houser and Astrid Sheil |
|
|
|
A new employee discovers that what is said and what is done in the organization are vastly different, with the effect being the stifling of innovation in the organization. |
|
|
|
4. Downsizing at Tata Steel |
|
|
62 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
Downsizing of an organization challenges management in communicating with employees and union representation. |
|
|
|
5. Discord at the Music School |
|
|
72 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
Following a popular leader, a new music director faces resistance to increasing rigor in the classes and improving organizational systems. |
|
|
|
6. Communicating and Leading Changein Organizations |
|
|
78 | (7) |
|
|
|
|
During a period of significant organizational change, a relocated manager is challenged to empower her employees, instill a sense of trust in a rapidly changing environment, and improve her organization's performance. |
|
|
|
|
|
85 | (8) |
|
Cheryl Cockburn-Wootten, Mary Simpson, and Theodore E. Zorn, Jr. |
|
|
|
A New Zealand auto glass company focuses on leadership communication during a period of major organizational change. |
|
|
|
8. Merged, Incompatible IT Cultures |
|
|
93 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
After technology units at a large state university merge, complexities of organizational culture arise when competing subcultures are forced to integrate. |
|
|
|
9. Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude |
|
|
99 | |
|
|
|
|
A company mandated mountain climb raises issues of ethics, inclusion, and corporate control for participants. |
|
|
| Section 2: Virtual Communication in Organizations |
|
|
10. Where Do We Go From Here? |
|
|
110 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
During a period of rapid change, an email conflict replaces face-to-face discussion of the potential adoption of a new system. |
|
|
|
11. Caught in the Intranet |
|
|
118 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
An American working in the Asian-Pacific branch of a large company is criticized openly on the company's intranet, generating multiple conflicts. |
|
|
|
12. The Difficulties of Virtual Leaders |
|
|
128 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
Virtual executives face communication difficulties when attempting to lead employees in a dot-corn organization. |
|
|
|
|
|
136 | (6) |
|
Melinda M. Villagran and Mary Hoffman |
|
|
|
With senior managers personally resistant to using technology, a relatively new employee is given a mandate to substantially increase technology use at the top of the organization. |
|
|
|
|
|
142 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
Lack of intranet access for some managers creates serious problems for information dissemination and contributes to perceptions of inequities. |
|
|
|
15. The E-Mails in the Clinic Initial Services Department |
|
|
150 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
A superior-subordinate relationship disrupts a productive department with ongoing conflict. |
|
|
| Section 3: Teamwork and Group Processes |
|
|
|
|
158 | (9) |
|
Carolyn M. Anderson and Heather L. Walter |
|
|
|
An established firm is overwhelmed with e-commerce opportunities, necessitating the creation of an expanded and somewhat unconventional team to meet volume demands. |
|
|
|
17. Reorganizing Human Resources at ASP Software |
|
|
167 | (9) |
|
|
|
|
An organizational development consultant looks for ways to assist a vice president in reorganizing the human resources department at a high-tech organization. |
|
|
|
|
|
176 | (13) |
|
|
|
|
A new director of the Interfaith Center for Aging is challenged by volunteer participation, board management, and establishing future directions. |
|
|
|
19. Teaming Up for Change |
|
|
189 | (15) |
|
Maryanne Wanca-Thibault and Adelina Gomez |
|
|
|
Multidisciplinary teams work together in a new organization to intervene in serious domestic violence cases. |
|
|
| Section 4: Decision Making and Problem Solving |
|
|
20. How Much Does Passion Count? |
|
|
204 | (12) |
|
Stuart L. Esroch, Joy L. Hart, and Greg B. Leichty |
|
|
|
A non-profit organization faces the difficult task of finding a new leader in the midst of its most important public policy initiative. |
|
|
|
|
|
216 | (11) |
|
|
|
|
An employee faces bureaucratic problems and ethical dilemmas as he tries to organize a fund raising event to assist an employee suffering from multiple sclerosis. |
|
|
|
|
|
227 | (11) |
|
Nancy M. Schullery and Melissa Gibson Hancox |
|
|
|
Faced with layoffs for the company's most productive manufacturing team, leadership introduces a controversial alternative work program in the nonprofit sector. |
|
|
|
23. A Matter of Perspective |
|
|
238 | (10) |
|
Paaige K. Turner and Robert L. Krizek |
|
|
|
A new director of patient care in the practice arm of a university's medical school faces patient dissatisfaction, needs for new processes, and space limitations as she attempts to reverse a declining revenue trend. |
|
|
|
24. The Expert Facilitator |
|
|
248 | (7) |
|
|
|
|
A facilitator faces opposition to the processes he is using in a strategic planning session. |
|
|
|
|
|
255 | (17) |
|
|
|
|
A team charged with a significant knowledge management project runs into opposition and quick cancellation of the effort. |
|
|
| Section 5: The Individual and the Organization |
|
|
26. The First Day at Work |
|
|
272 | (9) |
|
|
|
|
A new employee orientation session causes a new hire to question her decision to work for the company. |
|
|
|
27. When a Good Thing Goes Bad |
|
|
281 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
A drug company faces a crisis over issues of creativity, differences in protocols, and disagreements among senior staff. |
|
|
|
|
|
291 | (7) |
|
|
|
|
An expectant father faces a career dilemma when considering how to ask for paternity leave. |
|
|
|
29. Working Without Papers |
|
|
298 | (9) |
|
|
|
|
Immigrants and undocumented workers face harassment and discrimination, causing their supervisor to question next steps. |
|
|
|
|
|
307 | (12) |
|
|
|
|
An employee, who had sessions with a corporate-sponsored counselor, learns she has lost her job and is concerned information from her counseling was part of the organizational decision process. |
|
|
|
31. Managing Multiple Roles |
|
|
319 | (15) |
|
Caryn E. Medved and Julie Apker |
|
|
|
An employee managing multiple roles during an organizational merger faces stress, burnout, and work-family conflict. |
|
|
|
|
|
334 | (7) |
|
|
|
|
By comparing his actions with his explanations, both a new and an experienced insurance adjuster recognize the incompetence of their supervisor. |
|
|
|
|
|
341 | (9) |
|
Linda B. Dickmeyer and Scott G. Dickmeyer |
|
|
|
A young newcomer begins his career at an established organization and must recognize and adapt to the norms of a strong corporate culture. |
|
|
|
|
|
350 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
Faced with a surprising role conflict, an employee discovers the challenges of superior-subordinate relationships, specifically those relating to face work, impression management, and power. |
|
|
| Section 6: Diversity in Organizational Communication |
|
|
|
|
358 | (12) |
|
|
|
|
A female medical doctor finds being the first female in a medical practice group contentious and fraught with serious challenges. |
|
|
|
|
|
370 | (9) |
|
|
|
|
New leadership wanting change fires a 28-year employee, resulting in legal action and concerns from peers with much less experience. |
|
|
|
37. A Case of Mistreatment at Work? |
|
|
379 | (10) |
|
Mary M. Meares and John G. Oetzel |
|
|
|
An employee perceives mistreatment while her coworkers consider their cultural references to be teasing. |
|
|
|
|
|
389 | (5) |
|
|
|
|
Female consultants face obscene and sexist behaviors from large numbers of trainees challenging their abilities to handle the training classes. |
|
|
|
39. Navigating the Limits of a Smile |
|
|
394 | (14) |
|
|
|
|
A cruise ship staff faces challenges in creating expected customer service under difficult circumstances. |
|
|
|
40. A Celebration of Diversity |
|
|
408 | (5) |
|
|
|
|
An Asian manager questions why his new organization promotes workplace diversity by singling out one racial group. |
|
|
| About the Editors |
|
413 | (2) |
| About the Contributors |
|
415 | (4) |
| Detailed Case Content Index |
|
419 | |
Other versions by this Author
